Community Highlights: Meet John Ramsey of Nova Coffee

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Ramsey.

Hi John, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
In 2016, our family went on a family trip to Florida. My brother (Logan) and I decide we did not want to do the first leg of the trip, which was Disney. So, we shipped our Wives and children off to see the Mouse with our parents. On the 15-hour drive down, we daydreamed about what we do in life if only we could. Logan had plans of opening a coffee shop at some point, and I talked of doing a small cafe or corner store that sold sandwiches. 

When we got to Daytona Beach started in on our vacation. Our first morning we needed coffee and something to snack on. After some yelp searching, we found a small donut shop called Donnies. The donuts were unique, whimsical, and delicious. The coffee so so. 

We went just about every day to try every flavor. At one point, I said, “I think I make these,” followed by my dad saying, “If you can, I’ll be your first investor!” 

When we got back from vacation and back to the grind. The idea was there but sorta gone to the back of the stove. 

Then it happened: I had a meeting with someone in downtown Warren, Oh, who worked in development. She said she knew a gentleman that had bought up a bunch of the real estate on the square. By a bunch, I mean all of the empty buildings. I thought this was my in for my small cornerstone. 

In September of 2016 I had my meeting with Mr. Mark Marvin of Downtown Development Group. Of course, my little brother tagged along. We walked from one empty, destitute, dirty, haunted building to the next. Every building was worse than the next, with my hope dwindling with the overwhelming amount of time, work, and money that would be involved, but I love risk, I mean love it. By the end of the walkthroughs, we had a gentlemen’s handshake on 112 N Park Ave, Warren, Oh. 

A day later, the lease was signed, the keys were handed over, and I had to tell my wife. She just shook her head, rolled her eyes, and shrugged. Wasn’t the first time I did something spontaneous, won’t be the last. 

We demoed, we built, we cleaned, we cooked, we brewed, we built, and opened the doors April 3rd, 2017. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When we opened, we hit the ground running. Logan and I have pretty good connection in the city and surrounding area. Plus, Logan is great at building a repeat customer base. So, for two years, it was fairly smooth, but I never made a ton of money. I broke even and paid some loans off. Then the pandemic hit. It changed and is changing everything still. 

When the pandemic hit, we had to change our business to more of cafe from a coffeeshop. We did pretty good, but Logan is too much of an entrepreneur, and the reward wasn’t coming. So, we came to a decision for me to buy him out. 

After the buyout of the business, the cost of everything has risen, as well as wages for staffing. We have really leaned on food now as champions, and unfortunately, coffee has become second. This was never what we dreamed up, but it is now what we are, so I love it. 

Is it easy… No… would I do it again… No… Do I love it? Yes. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Nova Coffee Co.?
Nova Coffee Co. was founded out the desire of having great coffee and conversation at one location. When we opened, we were unique in teaching people about coffee. We are a third wave coffeeshop. What that means is wave one was Folgers / Maxwell house at home or a relatives, wave two is chain coffee that is exactly the same each time, and wave three is using sourced coffee from a region with specific notes that use science to have the best tasting coffee. 

We have been able to show countless people how good coffee can be with a little trust of the small business doing what it does. There is nothing better than having someone taste blueberry coming out of a cup of coffee. 

We also have some of the best donuts in the world. It took me some time, but I was able to dial in donuts that are our own. People love them and will go out of their way to grab a dozen to take somewhere. 

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The coffee industry/shop will not survive on its own, especially in a small city. There has to two or three other offerings. That is why, for us to continue, we have to have coffee, donuts, food, and retail. You need more than one “thing’ to make it. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.novacoffeeco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/novacoffeecompany/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NovaCoffeeCompany/